Three men accused of participating in the robbery of an Auckland dairy that resulted in the death of worker Janak Patel have appeared in the High Court at Auckland together for the first time.
A 34-year-old Otahuhu resident pleaded not guilty to murder and aggravated robbery while his two co-defendants, 34-year-old Wiri resident Henry Fred and 42-year-old Otahuhu resident Shane Henry Tane, both pleaded not guilty to robbery.
Justice Sally Fitzgerald allowed interim name suppression to remain in place for the murder suspect. Today marks the first time his co-defendants have been named.
She scheduled the trio’s next court appearance for March.
![Janak Patel, 34, was fatally stabbed while working at Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham. Photo / Hayden Woodward](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/CAO3LC7NLZBKPMDOG3VMQ43KLU.jpg?auth=c47343f208917721fb824f5599ab8012c91f177f1001abb9dc7500a1c3e7e52c&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)